Rather late doing a sea watch [other commitments] so from 13:10 to about 14:15, just 3 Fulmar, and 2 Gannet [1 ad and 1 2nd yr] down channel from the searchlight ‘shelter’, which felt as if it would be blown off its foundations at times! Much earlier, Phil Bristow had 2 Arctic Skuas, a single Storm Petrel, many Manxie, and a flock of Common Scoter, all d/c.

A single Common Sandpiper along the embankment by Penarth Marina/R. Ely mouth this morning, plus 100’s of Hirundines over the water, mostly Sand Martin but House Martins mixed in [active nest noted on house near the Penarth Marina outer lock gates] but no doubt plenty of others. Also whilst on the Barrage I noted about 6 Swifts feeding over the water.

In W paddock, flock of c.15 Long-tailed Tits with 3+ Willow Warbler and some Blue Tits. Also folk of 20+ Goldfinch with at least 2 Greenfinch in attendance. 1 Green Woodpecker in W paddock. On W lake near the bridge a pair of Little Grebe with 2 very small chicks – either a second brood or another pair, as there was a full grown imm a few weeks ago. Ad fem Blackbird feeding a fully grown youngster between the cafe and the office building. Think they have nested in nearby bramble.

An imm male Common Redstart was a nice surprise in a hawthorn bush south of the dragonfly pond near the lower gap in the W paddock hedgerow. It flew off into the nearby edge of Cogan Wood. Also 1 Willow Warbler, ad Green Woodpecker in W paddock on the dragonfly pond side of the hedge, and a pair of Gt Crested Grebes on E lake with 2 half grown young. These are either a second brood for the pair that had a single surviving chick raised to maturity earlier, or a late brood from another pair. Had no idea there was another nest.

Amazing find by Gareth Stamp this aft of a Manx Shearwater in Cardiff Bay, reported c.16.30. I eventually found it sitting on the water offshore by the Environment building, viewing from the Ice Rink boardwalk. It was still there at 6 and looked settled so maybe will stay overnight.

Also present were a few Swift, and plenty of House and Sand Martins over the water.

Some passerine activity again, this time along the central west paddock hedgerow this morning with a party of Long-tailed Tits accompanied again by Willow Warbler, Blue Tits, a Greenfinch! , a few Linnets and Goldfinch. The Wren popped up near me by the central viewpoint along the main path. Didn’t realise until I looked at the photo on the computer that in my first shot of it, it had a Harvestman in its beak. Just liked the juv Moorhen pretending to be a skulky rare Crake! And the last one, a Devil’s Coach Horse Beetle {Ocypus olens} a species of rove beetle. Haven’t seen one for ages. Also had 3 Painted Ladies in a brief visit b4 rushing off to the dentist!

A little action today. A party of around 10 Long-tailed Tits, mostly juvs, together with a few Phyllosc warblers including what was at least one Willow Warbler as per photo, plus two Painted Lady butterflies. Many other less too – Meadow Browns, Red Admiral x 4, lots of 6-Spot Burnet moths. Emperor, Common Darter and Black-tailed Skimmer dragons at the dipping pond.

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An imm Blackcap was in bushes beyond the dragonfly pond this morning and there were a few Goldfinch. Dipping pond had ovipositing Emperor, plus Common Darter and Black-tailed Skimmer. Butterflies incl Red Admiral, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Common Blue and Small Skipper.

Again pretty quiet for birds. A flock of around 30 Linnet were feeding on the ‘hill’ behind the dragonfly pond, the first I’ve seen at the park for quite some time – they were too skittish for a photo. Also in the same area a group of immature Long-tailed Tits. W lake had a single adult Little Grebe and a few Black-headed Gulls and there were 5 Tufted Duck on E lake. A few pix below including some non-avian wildlife.

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The usual suspects bird-wise. 3 GC Grebes on W lake and an ad Little Grebe. No show by any Water Voles but lots of Emperor dragonflies. Also quite a few of what I think are Meadow Grasshoppers – see pic. Click on each pic for a full sized one. Fab year for flowers too – no in flower is Centaury, Yellow Wort, Common Melilot, Ladies Bedstraw, and lots of Common Fleabane and Wild Parsnip.

Pretty blustery this morning. c.20 Sand Martin, 1 Swift and a few Swallows feeding over W lake, Green ‘Pecker calling from nr Medieval Village, a few butterflies despite the wind – Meadow Brown, 6-Spot Burnet moth x 2, Small Skipper, Ringlet, and 1 Common Blue.

This evening’s GBC/RSPB walk [18th Jul] to see the swift tower and to learn a bit about the project, was well attended with 25 participants, for which thanks folks. We started at the Penarth end and Alan Rosney have a short introduction. Then we walked slowly across to the Cardiff side, and saw a number of Swift which gradually drifted higher and towards upper Penarth. A Raven was on the Bay shoreline. Across the other side we assembled by the tower, which is just beyond the environment building, and Alan talked in more detail about the project and its aims, and how the tower is set up, and also what other actions are being taken to encourage swifts to nest in our area. Afterwards, we went further along to the old Roath Basin dock where the Sand Martin colony was still pretty active. We also saw 2 Peregrines flying past over the channel, and some pretty large gatherings of Starlings [max one was about 100 birds]. Also in the shoreline bushes a Common Whitethroat gave good views as it scolded a tabby cat. An impressive ‘sun dog’ in the clouds, and a stunning sunset concluded a very pleasant evening. 

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A few from a quick visit this morning. A couple of Tufted Duck [not photo’d] were a reminder that autumn is coming soon. There were three ad Little Grebes which was quite interesting. I have only been aware of 1 pair and there was an imm bird the other day. Other than that there an imm Crow ‘playing’ with a bit of old black plastic tubing in E paddock [see pic]. The awful pic was taken 2 days ago when I saw an ad Song Thrush feeding three fully grown young. Unfortunately the camera was on the wrong setting when I grabbed the pic and came out completely under-exposed, but I managed to recover a rather grainy image.

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Don’t forget our evening walk this evening across Cardiff Bay barrage, starting at 7 p.m. at the Penarth end car park, in partnership with RSPB. Basically a walk to introduce folk to the Swift Tower and to get an insight into what’s behind the Swift Project, how it is hoped the tower and other projects will help, and hopefully see a few Swifts and whatever else might be about.

Glamorgan Bird Club had a successful trip to Dare Valley CP yesterday with 20 participants. Typically for July there wasn’t a lot of bird activity but highlights over and above ‘common’ birds were in threes: 3 Peregrines putting on a good show, 3 Kingfishers at the main lake, and 3 Little Grebe families – an Ad and a juv on the main, middle, lake and remarkably 2 ads wit a total of 6 small young on the small upper lake. We had a few brief fly-over Redpoll and Siskin, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, Swifts over the distant houses and a good number of House Martins feeding over the lake.

Excellent GBC field trip to Carms today enjoyed by 19 participants, visiting Kidwelly Quay, Pembrey Harbour and Penclaccwydd WWT. 50+ species seen. Highlights – 4 Common Sandpiper, 6 Greenshank and approx 100 Redshank at Kidwelly, plus a distant Gannet, 100+ Curlew and a Whimbrel. A Shelduck crêche of an ad with 30+ ducklings, plus some common passerines. At Pembrey Harbour just 1 Sandwich Tern but 100+ Mediterranean Gulls!, but a couple of Marbled White butterflies were lifers for some, and a Painted Lady there. Also there 100+ Sand Martin were on the beach for a while then all took off. At Penclaccwydd 4 Spoonbill of which two were unusually active [for Spoonbills!], then approx 100 Black-tailed Godwit flying in to the lagoon behind the main hide was spectacular and warranted a celebratory cuppa and piece of cake at the café.

Noted a pair of Goldfinch this morning at the far entrance to Cogan Wood, one of which was carrying nest material. Took some shots of a LBBG coming dome for bread thrown down for the crows by my pal Lindsay who some folk may know – he walks round every day feeding the crows at various points, and they know him well. Quite a few butterflies on the wing – plenty of Ringlets, a single washed out Painted Lady, Red Admiral, and the fem Large Skipper shown.

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Having been noticeable by their apparent absence for some time, it seems a Little Grebe pair have bred by the W lake – an adult was feeding a juv on the far side this morning. Pic is a huge crop. Also the GC Grebe ‘humbug’ is doing well.

At Cossie a couple of days ago, 3 different Cetti’s warblers singing in the E lake reed area from three different positions. There has been song from nest the cafe for most of the last month or two. I suspect a pair have bred but of course no proof. Have not seen one on any visit but just heard.

Yesterday a Kingfisher was sitting in the fallen dead tree on E lake shore visible from the main bridge. Today in W paddock, a group of juv birds – Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin and Dunnock. Song Thrush and 4 Goldfinch there and one Song Thrush in Cogan Wood, juv Blackbird in Cogan Wood, 6 Swift over W lake plus a few Sand Martins. 3 Rook flew over W paddock – not often seen at Cossie